The titular Princess Zelda, reworked for the Nintendo Switch 2 remake The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
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Mario had his moment. Now it’s Zelda’s turn.
After The Super Mario Movie And Super Mario Galaxy movie do billion, Zelda heading to the big screen next April. So, to keep the franchise at the forefront, Nintendo is sumptuously remaking its 1998 classic. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time. The game begins on November 5, two weeks before the meteoric arrival of Grand Theft Auto VI – the only major release to dare compete with it that month.
While other companies avoid the Grand Theft Auto By avoiding the November release window, Nintendo’s throwback is poised to stand out from the glitzy violence of Grand Theft Auto. Although many will play both games, the start of the holiday season provides contrast: a family fantasy or a modern-day detective epic.
The protagonist Link appears in front of the Great Deku Tree with his fairy companion Navi.
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They are both beautiful to look at. RGT’s Netflix Overview showed himself the obsessive photorealism developer that Rockstar Games is known for. THE Ocarina of time The remake, on the other hand, maintains the cartoon aesthetic of the original game but adds intricate details.
First impressions
Your tunic is not only green; it’s a hand-sewn jumble of embroidered fabrics and leathers. And fairies are not simple balls of light; they are furry creatures with mosaic wings. Yet as someone who grew up with the original game and lost count of the number of times I beat it, I found that the remake’s baroque environments could confuse as well as dazzle.
The bustling central square of Hyrule Castle Town.
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Nintendo gave me 90 minutes to play a preview of the game at a preview in New York. I walked through the Kokiri Forest, drinking in its dappled light and rippling waters. Then I rushed across Hyrule Field. Although it was small by today’s gaming standards, it still looked as expansive as I remembered thanks to clever atmospheric lighting. Castle Town was livelier than ever, full of banners, flowers, and colorful citizens. Even though I was running around exploring as much as possible from the main plot, I couldn’t help but stop to admire the scenery and shops of the town.
I was then thrown into the Forest Temple – my favorite dungeon in the entire series. I was making good time and expected to reach its final boss before the end of my session. Alas, I somehow skipped a chest containing the key I needed to progress. A Nintendo representative pointed me in the right direction, recognizing that the wealth of detail could overwhelm the eye and make it difficult to know exactly where to go next.
The most famous corridor of the Forest Temple.
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Take a jump
I focus on the aesthetic transformation of the game because its mechanical changes are relatively limited. After all, why fix what’s not broken? The original Ocarina of time pioneered 3D video games and established action mechanics that still rule the industry. Modest updates hit the game during its repackage for GameCube and 3DS. For the Switch 2, Nintendo is applying a user interface reminiscent of 2017 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and a quest log in the pause menu titled “Sons of Time”. It also adds movement features that I almost forgot were missing: a jump and a sprint.
I was so used to the auto-jump that I failed to time this jump correctly when I got to it in my own playthrough.
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In the original Ocarina of timeyou automatically jumped when you came off a ledge or hole. Although you can choose to keep the old control scheme, the game now allows you to jump on command. It’s not very useful in combat, but I managed to jump onto the roof of a forest cabin otherwise accessible only by a winding path. Don’t wait Breath of the Wild opening. The game still seems to be a linear adventure, just one that now allows for occasional vertical shortcuts. Additionally, you could hold a button to sprint, a boon for those who were constantly rolling because it was faster than jogging.
While I have protested against Nintendo remakes before, I freely admit it Ocarina of time is not only a safe bet, but a smart one. With Zelda so close to its cinematic debut, the game is poised to ensnare old fans and attract new players. It’s very high production values also corresponds to a new priority of the company, which has paid special attention to the animation as well as the gameplay since 2023 Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
THE Ocarina of time the remake is the the prettiest Zelda game I’ve ever played. But I’ll need more than 90 minutes of preview time to see if its beauty is more than skin deep.
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